Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Roy A. Ekstrand
  • Patent number: 8302490
    Abstract: A pair of electro-acoustic transducers, one functioning as a speaker and the other functioning as a microphone, are operatively coupled to a reference which in turn is in communication with a fluid. A regenerative frequency filtering loop is operatively coupled between the transducers and functions to apply amplified signal to the speaker and produce an acoustic signal which propagates through the medium. The acoustic signal is sensed by the microphone and coupled to the regenerative loop input. For certain frequencies, the spacing between the transducers together with the speed of propagation of sound through the fluid combine with the frequency filtering of the regenerative loop to cause the loop to regenerate at a frequency indicative of the relative speed between the reference and the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: William E. Baker
  • Patent number: 8262545
    Abstract: A weighted vest includes a pair of mirror image front panels joined to a back panel to form a sleeveless weight supporting vest. A plurality of pliable easily conformed weight packets are secured within the vest interior by fabric attachment pads together with a combination of elastic bands and belts. The vest provides weight distribution particularly suited to activities of substantial acceleration such as sprint starting, American football or the like. A porous liner and mesh outer layer over certain areas of the vest allow heat to be vented from the vest interior. A pair of variable spring rate expansion joints are coupled between the front panels and the back panel passing over the shoulder, neck and collar bone region of the athlete's body to provide reduction of localized stress upon the athlete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: Richard A. Beber, Cheryl A. Ward
  • Patent number: 8092108
    Abstract: A liquid applicator includes an elongated cylindrical body having an end cap within which a plunger is slidably moveable. The cylindrical body defines a bore receiving a plunger seal and piston secured to the interior end of a sliding plunger handle. The remaining end of the cylindrical body is coupled to a porous nib having a flow control valve in communication therewith. The plunger is removable from the piston and sealing plunger following the liquid filling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Harry Bainbridge, Timothy S. Westrope
  • Patent number: 8056862
    Abstract: A thermal protection system for use upon an air or space vehicle includes a plurality of thermal protection panels formed of a suitable ceramic matrix composition or other thermally protective material each panel having a continuous outer surface free of penetrations or apertures. A plurality of cooperating fasteners are secured between the outer surface of a host vehicle and the undersurface of the thermal protection panels. The fasteners utilize a latching mechanism to secure the panels to the surface of the host air or space vehicle without requiring penetrations or irregularities in the panel surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Arrowhead Products Corporation
    Inventors: Reg Tomerlin, Allen W. Harwood, Richard Hoff
  • Patent number: 8028685
    Abstract: An adjustable cable guide for archery bow provides a housing which supports a pair of rotatable pulleys upon which the cam cables of the bow are received. A slide mounting of each pulley supporting segment is adjustable by a threaded adjustment screw. The entire adjustable cable guide assembly is supportable upon the riser directly or may be supported upon the conventional cable guide bar which extends from the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Roland Clark
  • Patent number: 7926212
    Abstract: A traffic signal device includes a plurality of illuminatable light assemblies such as red amber and green used to control traffic flow. A transparent element configured to fit upon the outer surface of the lens of a light assembly supports one or more opaque numerals corresponding to vehicle speed limits. The transparent member baring the speed limit numerals is placed upon the outer surface of the traffic signal lens to impose the speed limit numerals upon the light emitted by the light assembly when illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Alan Fisher
  • Patent number: 7700537
    Abstract: A joint area formed by intersecting surfaces is provided with a caulk seal using a conventional caulking gun to apply an initial bead of silicone-based caulk to the joint. Thereafter, a spray of cleaning solvent is immediately applied to the caulk bead and the surrounding surfaces of the joint area to provide complete covering. Excess caulk is removed from the joint such as through finger wiping, to provide a smoothed caulk joint corner. A cloth fiber patch is soaked to saturation in cleaning solvent and is smoothly stroked across the smoothed joint surface to further finish the caulk material surface and to remove traces of excess caulk material from the adjoining or intersecting surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning solvent is used to caulk a tub and wall joint area of a typical bathroom facility and includes a formula of soft distilled water, glycol ether DPM, a surfactant and an antifoaming agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventors: Don Carlos Atkins, Jr., R. Kevin Dawes
  • Patent number: 7524231
    Abstract: A combination doll and toy puppy include interacting magnetic elements therein which mimic a face-licking action by the puppy. The doll includes a partially hollow head within which one or more magnets are movably supported behind the cheek portions of the doll's face. A battery-powered electric motor driven gear drive mechanism is operative within the doll's head to move the one or more magnets behind the doll's cheeks. The puppy includes a flexible extending tongue having a magnetic element supported in the end portion thereof. When the puppy is brought sufficiently close to the doll's face, the magnet in the puppy's tongue is attracted to the moving magnet within the doll's cheek area to mimic the face-licking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Matheny, James Molina
  • Patent number: 7316359
    Abstract: A housing suitable for partial immersion in a pool or pond supports a plurality of electric lamps together with a plurality of fountain nozzles. The fountain nozzles are coupled to a nozzle flow distributor which is operative to direct water flow to one or more of the nozzles selectively. The directing of flow is accomplished by a motor-driven flow distributor operative under an electric module control. A plurality of electric lamps are supported within respective lamp assembly receptacles which in turn provide a flow of cooling water to maintain the lamp assemblies at a safe operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Noorolah Nader Beidokhti
  • Patent number: 7104491
    Abstract: A generally cylindrical housing supports a pair of rotatable tubing wheels within the housing. Each rotatable tubing wheel supports a quantity of flexible tubing having one end extending outwardly through an aperture in the housing and the remaining end coupled to a rotatable coupler such that gas flow may be produced between the two outer ends of the two flexible tubings. Each rotatable wheel is operatively coupled to a spring-driven ratchet-controlled winding and rewinding mechanism. The rotatable coupler between the interior ends of the two flexible tubes allows for independent rotation of each tubing wheel with respect to the remaining tubing wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Donald R. Vinding
  • Patent number: 7044292
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes an outer container having an open upper edge and a closed bottom and side wall together with a nesting strainer shaped and sized to be received within the outer container. A plurality of apertures are formed in the lower portion of the side wall and bottom surface of the strainer to drain liquids therefrom. A lid shaped and configured to be received upon the upper edge of the container and strainer provides closure of the cleaning device. A pair of handles are independently secured to the strainer and outer container for convenient carrying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Nall
  • Patent number: 6897622
    Abstract: A plurality of color LEDs are commonly coupled to a source of operating supply. A plurality of switching transistors and current limiting resistors in series therewith are coupled to the color LEDs to control the current there through in response to switching transistor conduction. A microcontroller having an input signal and a plurality of outputs configured in response thereto is operatively coupled to the plurality of switching transistors to control the conduction and thereby illumination output of the color LEDs to achieve incremental color blending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Lister
  • Patent number: 6888940
    Abstract: A magnetic holder for cell phones includes a cup formed of a ferromagnetic material or the like within which a magnet is supported. The rear surface of the cup includes a double-sided adhesive pad to provide attachment of the cup to a vehicle dashboard surface or the like. The cup concentrates the force of the magnet along the frontal edges thereof. A friction ring encircles the frontal edges of the cup to provide enhanced retention of a cell phone secured to the cup by magnetic attraction between the internal magnet and the cell phone battery or other metallic portion thereof. Alternate embodiments are shown which provide different shapes of cup and magnet and which provide differing attachments such as suction cups or belt clips for retaining the magnetic holder. In a further alternate embodiment, the packaging provided for the cup holder is constructed to facilitate the multiple display of the a plurality of cup holders and packages in typical point of sale environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventor: Daniel Deppen
  • Patent number: 6862429
    Abstract: An audio production, satellite uplink and radio broadcast studio system includes an audio console having a supporting meter bridge and editing unit operative under the control of a central or main computer. The audio console is coupled to a plurality of analog audio information sources including a plurality of microphones, a plurality of telephone lines, a radio broadcast tuner and a plurality of audio tape drives. The audio console is further coupled to a plurality of digital information sources including a pair of ISDN lines, a plurality of compact disc players, a mini-disc player and a remotely operated digital audio recorder. The computer is coupled to the audio console via an interface and sound card. The audio console is coupled to a plurality of program outputs having different program format capabilities and to a distribution amplifier operative to control the various remotely operated recording apparatus within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventors: Edward Efron, Gene Harris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6824442
    Abstract: A toy figure includes a lower torso and supporting legs together with a supplemental angled support. An upper torso and weapons backpack joined thereto is pivotally supported upon the lower torso and is pivoted in response to activation of a bi-directional motor and gear drive mechanism. The backpack supports a plurality of projectile launchers and simulated machine gun units which are pivotally moveable between a stored or closed configuration and a forwardly directed launch or firing configuration. A second motor operated within the upper torso rotates a plurality of cam which in turn engage various latch mechanisms for release of the spring-driven projectile launchers to fully deploy the weapons in their firing positions and to initiate projectile launch. A pair of infrared sensors within the weapons backpack respond to commands received from a remote controller worn on the user's wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrews, Alton Takeyasu, Eric Ostendorff
  • Patent number: 6793554
    Abstract: A toy vehicle booster for accelerating a toy vehicle upon a trackway includes a pair of rotating flexible resilient booster wheels positioned on each side of the trackway. In an alternative embodiment, a booster wheel is positioned above the trackway so as to engage the horizontal surfaces such as the roof of the toy vehicles. The booster wheels are formed of a concave resilient structure having a plurality of apertures positioned within the booster wheel to provide a desired flexibility in certain portions of the booster wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Newbold
  • Patent number: 6783424
    Abstract: A toy figure body formed as a four legged animal includes an outer skin and interior padding to assume an animal-like form. Within the front legs and feet of the animal body a front leg armature passed upwardly from the animal's feet through the front legs and across the lower portion of the body. A rear leg armature separate from the front leg armature extends upwardly from the animals feet through the rear legs and passes therebetween through the animal's body. A tail armature extends from with padded animal body outwardly to support a posable tail. In an alternate embodiment, the three separate armatures are covered with a fabric sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, INC
    Inventor: Ok Soo Choi
  • Patent number: D497046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Kohar Scott
  • Patent number: D499964
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: James Elliott, Jesse Flores, William O'Keefe
  • Patent number: D626031
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Rick Doran